Frame corner structure



Oct. 8, 1946. w. HOLMAN ETAL 2,408,852

FRAME CORNER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 24, 1943 E g I INVY NTCJR MQAMQM AT'iOENEY.

Patented Oct. 8, 1946 FRAME CORNER STRUCTURE William Holman and GustaveHolman, Sheboygan, Wis.

Application November 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,640

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a frame corner structure. Theinvention may be utilized in the manufacture of trunk or stove racks,battery hold-down frames, metal cases and elsewhere.

In devices of this general type, it has been common practice toreenforce the corner of a frame by means of a diagonal bracket riveted,bolted or welded across the corner of the frame. It is the object of thepresent invention to simplify and reduce the cost of such a constructionby providing means whereby the corner bracket may be applied to theframe by deforming portions of the metal in such a way as to precludemovement of the bracket in any direction with respect to the frame,whereby an entirely rigid corner structure results. In this connection,it should be noted that it is not sufficient merely to bend portions ofthe bracket about portions of the frame since the bracket might stillmove toward the corner, thereby relieving the corner of stress andleaving it non-rigid. In accordance with the present invention, thecorner reenforcing bracket is in pressure engagement with the frame bothinternally and externally at several points at each side of the cornerand to achieve this structure economically is another object of theinvention,

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a detailed view taken on lin 2-2 of Figure 1 showing theframe in section and the corner bracket in side elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the corner bracketas formed prior to its application to the frame.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing in perspective a modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view showing in perspective a different modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

The frame requiring reenforcement is designated by reference character6. It comprises a piece of strap metal having a slightly rounded rightangled corner at l.

The reenforcing bracket used in the preferred construction is separatelyillustrated in Figure 3. It is made from a single piece of metal formedto provide legs 8 which are in planes at right angles to each other fromwhich, in the respective planes, the diagonally ofiset portions 9 extendupwardly and toward the frame comer. In positions to 2 register with thetop margins of the sides of the frame contiguous to corner 1, thebracket has folds l0 engageable with the top margins of the respectiveframe sides. From these folds, the metal extends downwardly within theframe to the diagonally extending connecting portion H which spans thecorner of the frame at a level somewhat below-the top margins thereof.

With the bracket applied to the frame as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2,the lower extremities of the respective legs B are turned upwardly at l2at the inside of the frame, thereby securely locating the folds It onthe top margins of the frame. The upwardly turned lower margins I2,together with the portions of the folds H) which engage Within the topmargin of the frame securely position the bracket against displacementon the frame in any direction. The application of the bracket to theframe corner is preferably made in a die and the resulting reenforcedframe is exceptionally rigid.

The interlock of the bracket with the frame may also be accomplished bydeforming portions of the frame instead of portions of the bracket, orboth. In the Figure 4 construction, the frame sides are provided withoffset strips [5 and the bracket comprises a strap having leg portionswhich extend downwardly within the strips l5 and between such strips andthe frame 60. The ends of the legs 80 are folded upwardly against theinner faces of the frame sides. The intervening portion I ID of thebracket strap spans the corner and, as in the construction previouslydescribed, the bracket is incapable of movement in any direction, thepressure of the deformed strips l 5 of the frame holding the bracketsecurely in position.

In the construction shown in Figure 5, the bracket legs 8| passdownwardly on the outer faces of the frame sides and beneath the lowermargins of the .frame sides and upwardly upon their inner faces exactlyas in the Figure 4 construction. As a means of preventing the bracketfrom sliding toward the frame corner, the diagonal web portion III ofthe bracket has integral portions [8 formed downwardly against the innerfaces of the frame sides near their top m-ar gins, thus securely lockingthe brackets against movement. As in the constructions previouslydescribed, the bracket is preferably applied to the frame in a die andthe resulting structure is extremely rigid.

The various constructions disclosed exemplify some of the variouspossibilities in the way of the pressure interlock of a bracket with aframe corner whereby integral portions of the bracket and frame areengaged to rigidify the frame without the use of any extraneousfastening such as welds, rivets, bolts and the like.

We claim:

1. In a frame corner structure, the combination with strap metal framesides connected at right angles to comprise a corner and having externaland internal faces and disposed so that their edge portions form top andbottom margins, of a metal strap bracket diagonally spanning the topmargins of such sides across the angle therebetween and in spacedrelation to the corner, the ends of said strap bracket extendingdownwardly in face contact with the external faces of the respectiveframe sides and thence strap bracket diagonally spanning the top mar-egins of such sides across the angle therebetween and in spaced relationto the corner, the ends of 4 said strap bracket extending downwardly inface contact with the external faces of the respective frame sides andthence beneath the lower margins thereof and upwardly in substantialface contact with the interior faces of the respective frame sides,integral portions of said strap bracket between said sides beingdownwardly deformed relative to the top margins of said sides intoengagement with the inner faces of said sides to effect a mechanicalinterlock between said bracket and sides.

3. The device of claim 2, in which portions of the strap bracketimmediately within the top margins of said frame sides extend downwardlyin pressure engagement with the inner faces of such sides to comprisethe portions mechanically interlocked with such sides.

4. The device of claim 2, in which all portions of the strap bracketbetween the top margins of the frame sides are offset downwardly inthrust engagement with the inner faces of such sides to comprise theportions interlocked with such sides.

5. The device of claim 2 in which the downwardly deformed integralportions of the strap bracket comprise tongues having free ends directedto internal faces of the frame sides engaged thereby, the remainder ofthe strap bracket between said sidesextending substantiallyrectilinearly across the angle therebetween.

. WILLIAM I-IOLMAN.

GUSTAVE HOLMAN.

